INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
market forecasts of 0.3%.The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reported year-over-year expansion of 3.1%, nearly double
growth in January.Sixteen of 25 industrial sectors expanded, led by pharmaceuticals and chemicals (+13.7%), petroleum products and biofuels
(+3.4%), and automotive manufacturing (+4.0%).Clothing, furniture, and machinery sectors also contributed
Nine sectors contracted, with chemicals (-2.1%) and food products (-0.7%) dragging most heavily.Production now sits 2.8% above pre-pandemic
levels but remains 14.4% below its May 2011 peak.Brazilian Industry Posts Strong March Rebound Amid Persistent Structural Challenges
(Photo Internet reproduction)The recovery appears fragile
pressures.High interest rates (14.25%), softening global demand, and domestic structural inefficiencies continue to limit growth.Analysts
Posts Strong March Rebound Amid Persistent Structural ChallengesCapital goods production fell 0.7% in March, signaling reduced business
Conversely, durable consumer goods jumped 3.8%, suggesting uneven demand.Export-reliant sectors face headwinds from United States trade
policy shifts, while domestic producers grapple with energy costs and logistical bottlenecks.The IBGE revised seasonal adjustment methods in
steadily since 2011, with productivity gaps and infrastructure deficits hindering competitiveness.Policymakers now balance inflation
